U.S. Military strength and deployments

U.S. GROUND FORCE NUMBERS AND DEPLOYMENTS

DO WE HAVE ENOUGH TROOPS FOR A MAJOR CONFLICT?

The United States Active duty Army and Marine personnel.

Army          472,000 combat, logistics, Headquarters and administration, life support.

Marines      184,000

Army Reserve   336,879

Marine Reserve 190,699

Army deployed outside USA       70,000

Marines  deployed outside USA  41,166

Europe      Army    25,909

                  Marines   3095

Asia pacific area      Army     36,065

                                 Marines 28,575

West Asia , Africa, middle east  excluding Afghanistan and Iraq

                         Army      1887

                         Marines  2485

Afghanistan and Iraq approx 15,000 combined with Air force and Navy

Unspecified or classified

                           Army     6130

                           Marines 7011

So, one must remember that approximately 1/3 of troops are actual combat troops. We have troops stationed in 150 countries, some of which are there for embassy security, many for training local forces.

These numbers include air support personnel in the army and marines, 

The tooth to tail ratio for U.S Troops from 1945-2007 averaged as below;

32.5%   combat

34   % logistics

24.5% HQ/administration

  9   % Life support.

Actual combat troops available : 656,000 active Army and Marine

                                                     112,000 deployed

                                                     544,000 available, leaving no U.S.mainland troops

                                                     177,000 active combat troops

Reserves which would take considerable time to activate  528,000

                                                                                             171,000 combat troops.

Of course we could not utilize all these troops , as many are based in the U.S. to maintain bases and administrative duties. Any major conflict will require the implementation of the Draft.

Of course this does not include Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard. 

It seems we do have enough troops for a single major confrontation, but it would be questionable for any more. We do have an advantage in sophisticated weapons and in most cases better training and combat experience. Only a military logistics expert could determine what are real capabilities are. I do not assume to be one.